Louisville Cardinals women's basketball
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(capacity: 22,090)
| Louisville Cardinals women's basketball | |||||||||||
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| University | University of Louisville | ||||||||||
| Head coach | Jeff Walz (19th season) | ||||||||||
| Location | Louisville, Kentucky | ||||||||||
| Arena | KFC Yum! Center (capacity: 22,090) | ||||||||||
| Conference | Atlantic Coast Conference | ||||||||||
| Nickname | Cardinals | ||||||||||
| Colors | Red and black[1] | ||||||||||
| NCAA Division I tournament runner-up | |||||||||||
| 2009, 2013 | |||||||||||
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| Conference tournament champions | |||||||||||
| 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1993, 2018 | |||||||||||
| Conference regular-season champions | |||||||||||
| 1992, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 | |||||||||||
| Uniforms | |||||||||||
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The Louisville Cardinals women's basketball team represents the University of Louisville in women's basketball. The school competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Cardinals play home basketball games at KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky.
Louisville's current head coach is Jeff Walz, who joined the team in 2007. Under his leadership the school moved into the top 15 in attendance his first year, averaging 6,456 fans per game.
Louisville represented USA basketball at Globl Jam 2023, and defeated team Canada, by a score of 68–66 in the gold medal game.
Terry Hall era (1975–1980)
The Cardinals have reached the NCAA Tournament in 1983, 1984, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. They reached the Final Four 4 times in 2009, 2013, 2018, and 2022; losing in the title game twice (09,13). They have been in six conferences, playing in the Kentucky Women's Intercollegiate Conference from 1978 to 1981, the Metro Conference from 1981 to 1995, Conference USA from 1995 to 2005, the Big East Conference from 2005 to 2013, the American Athletic Conference for the 2013–14 season, and the Atlantic Coast Conference since 2014.[2]
In 1975, Terry Hall was hired as the first full time head coach for the Louisville women's basketball team. Hall compiled a record of 79-54 and led the Cardinals to the 1980 Metro Conference Championship.[3]
Peggy Fiehrer era (1980–1989)
During her tenure, Fiehrer led the Cardinals to three Metro Conference Tournament championships and the first NCAA tournament appearance in program history.
Bud Childers era (1989–1997)
Martin Clapp & Sara White era (1997–2003)
Husband and wife duo Martin Clapp and Sara White were hired as co-head coaches in 1997.
In 2000, Martin Clapp took over as head coach.
In 2003, Clapp resigned as head coach of the Cardinals.[4]
Tom Collen era (2003–2007)
Jeff Walz era (2007–present)
Jeff Walz was hired as a first year head coach from the University of Maryland in 2007. Under the guidance of Walz, Louisville became a college basketball power. In his first season, he guided the Cardinals to the first NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearance in program history. During his tenure at Louisville, the Cards have made fifteen NCAA tournament appearances, twelve Sweet 16s, eight Elite Eights, four Finals Fours, and two national championship appearances.
Season-by-season results
| Season | Coach | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terry Hall (Metro Conference) (1975–1980) | |||||||||
| 1975–76 | Terry Hall | 12-11 | |||||||
| 1976–77 | Terry Hall | 15-7 | |||||||
| 1977–78 | Terry Hall | 18-9 | |||||||
| 1978–79 | Terry Hall | 17-10 | 7-5 | ||||||
| 1979–80 | Terry Hall | 17-17 | 7-5 | ||||||
| Terry Hall: | 79–54 (.594) | -–- (–) | |||||||
| Peggy Fiehrer (Metro Conference) (1980–1989) | |||||||||
| 1980–81 | Peggy Fiehrer | 14-14 | 5-7 | ||||||
| 1981–82 | Peggy Fiehrer | 19-8 | 4-2 | ||||||
| 1982–83 | Peggy Fiehrer | 20-10 | 5-4 | NCAA 1st round | |||||
| 1983–84 | Peggy Fiehrer | 15-16 | 7-3 | NCAA 1st round | |||||
| 1984–85 | Peggy Fiehrer | 17-14 | 4-6 | ||||||
| 1985–86 | Peggy Fiehrer | 8-20 | 2-8 | ||||||
| 1986–87 | Peggy Fiehrer | 11-17 | 4-8 | ||||||
| 1987–88 | Peggy Fiehrer | 12-16 | 4-8 | ||||||
| 1988–89 | Peggy Fiehrer | 4-24 | 0-12 | ||||||
| Peggy Fiehrer: | 120–139 (.463) | 35–58 (.376) | |||||||
| Bud Childers (Metro Conference) (1989–1995) | |||||||||
| 1989–90 | Bud Childers | 17-12 | 6-8 | ||||||
| 1990–91 | Bud Childers | 24-11 | 9-5 | ||||||
| 1991–92 | Bud Childers | 20-9 | 11-1 | ||||||
| 1992–93 | Bud Childers | 19-12 | 7-5 | NCAA 2nd round | |||||
| 1993–94 | Bud Childers | 10-16 | 7-5 | ||||||
| 1994–95 | Bud Childers | 25-8 | 7-5 | NCAA 2nd round | |||||
| Bud Childers (Conference USA) (1995–1997) | |||||||||
| 1995–96 | Bud Childers | 17-11 | 9-5 | ||||||
| 1996–97 | Bud Childers | 20-9 | 12-2 | NCAA 1st round | |||||
| Bud Childers: | 152–88 (.633) | 68–36 (.654) | |||||||
| Martin Clapp & Sara White (Conference USA) (1997–2000) | |||||||||
| 1997–98 | Martin Clapp & Sara White | 20-12 | 12-14 | ||||||
| 1998–99 | Martin Clapp & Sara White | 21-11 | 12-14 | NCAA 1st round | |||||
| 1999–00 | Martin Clapp & Sara White | 16-13 | 9-7 | NCAA 1st round | |||||
| Martin Clapp & Sara White: | 57–36 (.613) | 33–35 (.485) | |||||||
| Martin Clapp (Conference USA) (2000–2003) | |||||||||
| 2000–01 | Martin Clapp | 19-10 | 14-2 | NCAA 1st round | |||||
| 2001–02 | Martin Clapp | 17-13 | 8-6 | ||||||
| 2002–03 | Martin Clapp | 15-14 | 5-9 | ||||||
| Martin Clapp: | 108–73 (.597) | 60–52 (.536) | |||||||
| Tom Collen (Conference USA) (2003–2005) | |||||||||
| 2003–04 | Tom Collen | 20-10 | 11-3 | ||||||
| 2004–05 | Tom Collen | 22-9 | 11-3 | NCAA 1st round | |||||
| Tom Collen (Big East Conference) (2005–2007) | |||||||||
| 2005–06 | Tom Collen | 19-10 | 10-6 | NCAA 1st round | |||||
| 2006–07 | Tom Collen | 27-8 | 10-6 | NCAA 2nd round | |||||
| Tom Collen: | 88–37 (.704) | 42–18 (.700) | |||||||
| Jeff Walz (Big East Conference) (2007–2013) | |||||||||
| 2007–08 | Jeff Walz | 26-10 | 10-6 | T-5th | NCAA Sweet Sixteen | ||||
| 2008–09 | Jeff Walz | 34-5 | 14-2 | 2nd | NCAA Runner Up | ||||
| 2009–10 | Jeff Walz | 14-18 | 5-11 | T-12th | WBI 1st round | ||||
| 2010–11 | Jeff Walz | 22-13 | 10-6 | T-5th | NCAA Sweet Sixteen | ||||
| 2011–12 | Jeff Walz | 23-10 | 10-6 | T-6th | NCAA 2nd round | ||||
| 2012–13 | Jeff Walz | 29-9 | 11-5 | T-3rd | NCAA Runner Up | ||||
| Jeff Walz (American Athletic Conference) (2013–2014) | |||||||||
| 2013–14 | Jeff Walz | 33-5 | 16-2 | 2nd | NCAA Elite Eight | ||||
| Jeff Walz (Atlantic Coast Conference) (2014–present) | |||||||||
| 2014–15 | Jeff Walz | 27-7 | 12-4 | 3rd | NCAA Sweet Sixteen | ||||
| 2015–16 | Jeff Walz | 26-8 | 15-1 | 2nd | NCAA 2nd round | ||||
| 2016–17 | Jeff Walz | 29-8 | 12-4 | T-4th | NCAA Sweet Sixteen | ||||
| 2017–18 | Jeff Walz | 36-3 | 15-1 | T-1st | NCAA Final Four | ||||
| 2018–19 | Jeff Walz | 32-4 | 14-2 | T-1st | NCAA Elite Eight | ||||
| 2019–20 | Jeff Walz | 28-4 | 16-2 | 1st | Postseason Cancelled | ||||
| 2020–21 | Jeff Walz | 26-4 | 14-2 | 1st | NCAA Elite Eight | ||||
| 2021–22 | Jeff Walz | 29-5 | 16-2 | 2nd | NCAA Final Four | ||||
| 2022–23 | Jeff Walz | 26-12 | 12-6 | T-4th | NCAA Elite Eight | ||||
| 2023–24 | Jeff Walz | 24-10 | 12-6 | T-5th | NCAA First Round | ||||
| 2024–25 | Jeff Walz | 22-11 | 13-5 | T-4th | NCAA Second Round | ||||
| 2025–26 | Jeff Walz | 29–8 | 15–3 | 2nd | NCAA Sweet Sixteen | ||||
| Jeff Walz: | 515–154 (.770) | 216–67 (.763) | |||||||
| Total: | 1062–545 (.661) | ||||||||
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National champion
Postseason invitational champion
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NCAA tournament results
Louisville has reached the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament 28 times. They have a record of 47–28.
| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | #7 | First Round | (2) Texas | L 84–55 |
| 1984 | #8 | First Round | (1) Georgia | L 112–69 |
| 1993 | #11 | First Round Second Round | (6) Connecticut (3) Auburn | W 74–71 L 66–61 |
| 1995 | #11 | First Round Second Round | (6) Oregon (3) Georgia | W 67–65 L 81–68 |
| 1997 | #10 | First Round | (7) Auburn | L 68–65 |
| 1998 | #10 | First Round Second Round | (7) Utah (2) Duke | W 69–61 L 69–53 |
| 1999 | #10 | First Round | (7) Illinois | L 69–67 |
| 2001 | #13 | First Round | (4) Xavier | L 80–52 |
| 2005 | #9 | First Round | (8) USC | L 65–49 |
| 2006 | #9 | First Round | (8) Vanderbilt | L 76–64 |
| 2007 | #6 | First Round Second Round | (11) BYU (3) Arizona State | W 80–54 L 67–58 |
| 2008 | #4 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen | (13) Miami (OH) (5) Kansas State (1) North Carolina | W 81–67 W 80–63 L 78–74 |
| 2009 | #3 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four Championship | (14) Liberty (6) LSU (2) Baylor (1) Maryland (1) Oklahoma (1) Connecticut | W 62–42 W 62–52 W 56–39 W 77–60 W 61–59 L 76–54 |
| 2011 | #7 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen | (10)Vanderbilt (2) Xavier (11) Gonzaga | W 81–62 W 85–75 L 76–69 |
| 2012 | #7 | First Round Second Round | (10) Michigan State (2) Maryland | W 67–55 L 72–68 |
| 2013 | #5 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four Championship | (12) Middle Tennessee State (4) Purdue (1) Baylor (2) Tennessee (2) California (1) Connecticut | W 74–49 W 76–63 W 82–81 W 86–78 W 64–57 L 93–60 |
| 2014 | #3 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight | (14) Idaho (6) Iowa (7) LSU (4) Maryland | W 88–42 W 83–53 W 73–47 L 76–73 |
| 2015 | #3 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen | (14) BYU (6) South Florida (7) Dayton | W 86–53 W 60–52 L 82–66 |
| 2016 | #3 | First Round Second Round | (14) Central Arkansas (6) DePaul | W 87–60 L 73–72 |
| 2017 | #4 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen | (13) Chattanooga (5) Tennessee (1) Baylor | W 82–62 W 75–64 L 97–63 |
| 2018 | #1 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four | (16) Boise State (8) Marquette (4) Stanford (6) Oregon State (1) Mississippi State | W 74–42 W 90–72 W 86–59 W 76–43 L 73–63 (OT) |
| 2019 | #1 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight | (16) Robert Morris (8) Michigan (4) Oregon State (2) Connecticut | W 69–34 W 71–50 W 61–44 L 80–73 |
| 2021 | #2 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight | (15) Marist (7) Northwestern (6) Oregon (1) Stanford | W 74–43 W 62–53 W 60–42 L 63–78 |
| 2022 | #1 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight Final Four | (16) Albany (9) Gonzaga (4) Tennessee (3) Michigan (1) South Carolina | W 83–51 W 68–59 W 76–64 W 62–50 L 59–72 |
| 2023 | #5 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight | (12) Drake (4) Texas (8) Ole Miss (2) Iowa | W 83–81 W 73–51 W 72–62 L 83–97 |
| 2024 | #6 | First Round | (11) Middle Tennessee | L 69–71 |
| 2025 | #7 | First Round Second Round | (10) Nebraska (2) TCU | W 63–58 L 70–85 |
| 2026 | #3 | First Round Second Round Sweet Sixteen | (14) Vermont (6) Alabama (2) Michigan | W 72–52 W 69–68 L 52–71 |
Individual honors and notable players
Retired numbers
| No. | Player | Pos. | Tenure | No. ret. | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | Angel McCoughtry | F | 2005–2009 | 2010 | [6] |
